Money politics: How much is too much?

When we last talked, we discussed middle-of-the-road issues like having a balanced federal budget during normal economic times, and balancing the inevitable deficits during the bad times, like now, with surpluses during the good. We also discussed the factual impossibility of paying off our national debt while continuing to “borrow” our nation’s money from private bankers who create it out of thin air.

Since there weren’t any significant challenges to the column on the Daily Republic website, and no angry letters to the editor calling me bad names, I’m guessing we’ve found common ground. This week, let’s continue our quest for agreement.

American politics is currently defined by our two major political parties, the Democrats and the Republicans. Even though I can’t remember ever praising Democrats, I get a lot of flak from emails, Daily Republic commenters and from a certain newspaper editor about my occasional attacks on Republicans and fringe-right tea partyers.

In the online conversation that followed Jack Batson’s March 10 column, “Tea party adherents unwitting shock troops of plutocrats,” Brian Thiemer commented: “Why do you two feel that the misuse of the ‘system’ is isolated to Republicans/tea partyers? Even when you admit that ‘Democrats to a lesser extent’ are complicit in this manipulation, they are given a pass. Your ‘only right-wingers are guilty’ undertones belie the fact that the threat to the people is not a left-right paradigm, it is a top-down paradigm.”

Good question.

In our quest for common ground, it’s fair to say that Democrats and Republicans agree on “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” but we’re endlessly bedeviled by the details. We all seem to agree that we should be protected from harm by foreign invaders, criminals, pollution and shoddy products and services; we agree that government should invest in roads, dams, bridges, water and sewer systems, and an electrical grid; and all but heartless social Darwinists see the need for supportive services for those of us who need a helping hand.

The left-right paradigm concentrates on spirited “how much” questions like: How much should we help the needy, how much should we spend on defense and how much should we pay in taxes to finance those goals?

Brian’s “top-down paradigm” could be the Libertarian complaint that government shouldn’t be telling citizens what they can and cannot do. That conversation concerns our “social contract,” our understanding and acquiescence to the rules necessary to ensure 300 million diverse people can live together relatively peacefully in one country. That too, is the subject of many thoughtful “how much” conversations.

But there is also another, more profound top-down paradigm, as discussed in Jack Batson’s column: The wealthy versus the rest of us.

Our government is becoming more and more controlled by the wealthy and their corporations, to the endless distress of everyone else. President Dwight D. Eisenhower warned us about the influence of the military-industrial complex back in 1961, yet we continually fight pointless wars without end. Corporate executives fill the upper echelons of all government regulatory agencies, entering and exiting through highly greased revolving doors. Bankers control both the Federal Reserve and our U.S. Treasury Department, giving themselves bailouts and converting trillions in toxic mortgages from private woes into public debt.

Now, unlimited political donations have, more than ever, meant that “our” government representatives speak less and less for us, and more and more for them.

It’s time American voters started another “how much” conversation: How much of “our” government should money be able to buy? Being a middle-of-the-roader, I stand with you, Fairfield, the 99.99 percent, and I will continue to point out trends, politicians and legislation that’s harmful to our interests.

Mike Kirchubel grew up in Fairfield and is the author of “Vile Acts of Evil – Banking in America.” He can be reached at [email protected]

Mike Kirchubel

Discussion | 48 comments

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Those who do not know History are Doomed to repeat itMarch 17, 2014 - 2:01 am

Wikipedia ... The Enabling Act.... The Enabling Act (German: Ermächtigungsgesetz) was a 1933 amendment to the Weimar Constitution that gave the German Cabinet – in effect, Chancellor Adolf Hitler – the power to enact laws without the involvement of the Reichstag. It passed in both the Reichstag and Reichsrat on 23 March 1933, and was signed by President Paul von Hindenburg later that day. The act stated that it was to last four years unless renewed by the Reichstag, which occurred twice. For all intents and purposes, the Enabling Act gave Hitler plenary powers and made him the dictator of Germany. It followed on the heels of the Reichstag Fire Decree, which abolished most civil liberties and transferred state powers to the Reich government. The combined effect of these two bills was to bring the Weimar Republic to an end...............
The formal name of the Enabling Act was Gesetz zur Behebung der Not von Volk und Reich (English: "Law to Remedy the Distress of People and Reich"). This legislation was ostensibly passed at the Kroll Opera House, where the legislators were surrounded by, and threatened by, Nazi troops. The Communists had already been banned and were therefore not present and not able to vote, while several Social Democrats were kept away as well. In the end, nearly all the parties present voted for the act, with the Social Democrats being the only ones voting against.[1]..... Eerily enough currently to office of the Executive/President has taken on extreme unconstitutional powers under both the Obama/Clinton and Bush/Bush Administrations.....WAKE UP PEOPLE

Beyond Treason FULL LENGTHMarch 17, 2014 - 2:36 am

SavetheRepublicMarch 17, 2014 - 2:42 am

And now our Government, our Obama Government is doing/has done the same sort of thing to civilian populations and some of our own military in Libya, Syria, now the Ukraine, they want to go after Iran....But in reality it is not our Government....our Government is controlled by the New World Order Bankers/Corporatists/Elements of the Military Industrial Complex and Dark Elements of the Intelligence Agencies (worldwide)....they set up countries worldwide to fight each other.....WAKE UP PEOPLE

Republican Democrat Same Same both controlled by the GlobalistsMarch 17, 2014 - 2:53 am

On April 9, 2007 when Soros publicly decided to back Obama instead of Hillary Clinton in the race for the Rose Garden, the junior Senator from Illinois was once again invited to New York for another Manhattan fund-raiser. This time, it was at the home of financier Steven Gluckstern who assured Obama he would be able to raise "...well over a million dollars" for the Senator. ................
Obama met with Soros in in what appears to be their first meeting in the philanthropist's mid-town Manhattan office on Dec. 4, 2006. Soros offered his financial support for an Obama bid for the White House and urged Obama to join the fray before the anticipated announcement by Sen. Hillary Clinton who had been testing the mood of the voters since early 2006. After their handshake, Soros took Obama into a conference room where about a dozen bankers were waiting to meet him. Among those dignitaries was the US head of Union Bank of Switzerland (SwissBank), Robert Wolf, and hedge fund manager Orin Kramer. A week after that meeting, Wolf met Obama for dinner in Washington, DC to map out a campaign strategy that would put Sen. Barack Hussein Obama -- in the White House................
Clinton lost much of her big money support -- including Soros -- as the ballots were being counted in the New Hampshire primary. The Rockefeller-controlled banking interests pulled most of their financial support from Clinton and gave it to Obama. The bank flip-flop included Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup and JPMorgan Chase (Chase Morgan). After New Hampshire, the campaign finance filings of Sen. Obama showed the wealthiest banks and bankers were now bankrolling him. So, for that matter, were some of the world's biggest "Washington influence buyers." Most of those dollars shifted from Clinton to Obama on the eve of New Hampshire -- even though Obama lost the night. In honest politics, it doesn't happen that way. Obama was now completely and safely tucked away in the hip pockets of the globalists who are determined to erase the Bill of Rights by 2012 and fully implement a socialist world government.....Posters Note.....Guess they thought they would get their NWO Goals better implemented with Hillary as Secretary of State, and Obama as Puppet in Chief.

DanielMarch 17, 2014 - 5:40 am

Trickle down federal bureaucracy isn't trickling down to the now record poor and homeless, it's ending up in corporate corporate welfare to crooner capital campaign donors as the feds continue with their out of control spending spree. It's nauseating the way the current bunch of politicians use helping the poor as their campaign slogan and never intend to.

rlw895March 18, 2014 - 6:21 am

D: Eliminate the extra "corporate," make "croony" into "crony," and say "some politicians" to avoid over generalizing, and you have a deal. Paul Ryan's efforts to show compassion for poor Americans is interesting to watch.

Teach5thMarch 17, 2014 - 6:33 am

Mike - in addition to the bankers, you left out the unions. I have to pay large union dues, and the unions use a substantial portion of that money to vote for people/laws which I find repugnant. Consequently, with all of the union dollars and the likes of Soros, et al, Dems. get elected to very important offices despite having only the experience of being community organizers. I know you'll probably reference the Koch brothers, but, the difference between them and the unions is they don't tell people for whom they must vote.

CD BrooksMarch 17, 2014 - 6:46 am

Teach5th, "Soros?" "Community Organizers?" Senseless FOX-isms and ranting. Referencing the Koch brothers, " they don't tell people for whom they must vote?" Your ign*rance is mind numbing. Do you ever take accountability for anything you say? No you don't. Lie, defect and bail.

Teach5thMarch 17, 2014 - 7:45 am

CD - you told me you don't watch Fox, so how would you know they're fox isms? You are impossible to have a logical debate with. You resort to name calling, threatening, and demeaning taunts. You're using the only tools in your little bag of liberal tricks. Happy St. Patrick's Day.

CD BrooksMarch 17, 2014 - 8:19 am

Teach5th, as an Irishman I accept your good wishes. As a commenter here seeking justice it saddens me that so many of you are failing. I coined that phrase several years ago based on the "there amigos" Limbaugh, Hannity and Beck for their evil alliances with the band-wagon GOP nuts. Great news, I DO NOT watch FOX or MSNBC, there are very well informed sites all over the internet to get honest and quality news. My sense of perception is so sharp it cuts through the nonsense and I have clear path to the truth. Please feel free to jump in do a little work and you too will see dangers in supporting the right wing agenda. As a woman I believe you'd be especially concerned about their prejudice.

mike kirchubelMarch 17, 2014 - 9:36 am

Teach, Yea, they're Foxisms. And doesn't your union support issues and politicians that would be benificial for you? It seems as though you may not be fully appreciating or understanding your true station in life or the actual position of those you support. Could it be that you have been manipulated into voting against your own best interests?

mike kirchubelMarch 17, 2014 - 9:40 am

I meant, "yeah." My fifth grade teacher hated us using that word. And no, i didn't want to report my last comment as offensive. Either you need to space out the "reply" and "report" buttons, or i need smaller fingers.

CD BrooksMarch 18, 2014 - 5:56 am

rlw895March 18, 2014 - 6:28 am

CD: And if T5 wants a good read on your Three Amigos (or should it be Amugos?) and others, he should get and read a copy of "Lies, and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right." Be sure to underline the good parts!

CD BrooksMarch 18, 2014 - 7:11 am

rlw895, I always said if we weren’t careful this would happen and now it is becoming reality. The evil Koch brothers and the devil Karl Rove have proven that the scales of justice are no longer the political standard in this country. While they have been practicing their do nothing policies and attacking the president at very turn, there was something more sinister underlying their plan. The GOP and their religious body have launched one of the most egregious attacks on freedom ever in this country and nobody is watching. The disinterested voters and lack of compassion for fellow citizens has reached an all time low. This is a terrible time for our once proud and strong American history.

rlw895March 18, 2014 - 6:04 am

rlw895March 18, 2014 - 6:13 am

The dichotomy is more analytical-emotional than liberal-conservative. Emotional types drive me nuts. If I may "paraphrase" Mike, as Americans, we generally share the same values. Our disputes come from our view of facts. Analytical people are always looking for the facts. Emotional people don't care.

Yesterday ( Monday ) on InfowarsMarch 18, 2014 - 7:48 am

On this Monday, March 17 edition of the Alex Jones Show, Alex showcases how the globalists, who sit above nations, are playing countries off against each other in order to seize their infrastructure. The UN is set to take control of the Internet after the U.S. Commerce Department released its grasp on ICANN, the Internet's domain name manager, setting the stage for worldwide web taxes and censorship. The EU in particular has already proposed Internet censorship under the guise of "protecting the children" and "fighting terrorism." Alex also covers the latest developments coming from Crimea as both NATO and Russia position their military assets for a coming showdown which could even result in a tactical nuclear war. Many analysts have stated that this situation is more dangerous than anything that has ever happened during the Cold War. You don't want to miss this important broadcast.wwwinfowarscom

GlyphosateMarch 18, 2014 - 7:54 am

Another suspected carcinogen served to you by the Corporate/Banker NWO complex..........Glyphosate (N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine) is a broad-spectrum systemic herbicide used to kill weeds, especially annual broadleaf weeds and grasses known to compete with commercial crops grown around the globe. It was discovered to be a herbicide by Monsanto chemist John E. Franz in 1970.[3] Monsanto brought it to market in the 1970s under the trade name "Roundup", and Monsanto's last commercially relevant United States patent expired in 2000........................
Glyphosate was quickly adopted by farmers, even more so when Monsanto introduced glyphosate-resistant crops, enabling farmers to kill weeds without killing their crops. In 2007 glyphosate was the most used herbicide in the United States agricultural sector, with 180 to 185 million pounds (82,000 to 84,000 tonnes) applied, and the second most used in home and garden market where users applied 5 to 8 million pounds (2,300 to 3,600 tonnes); additionally industry, commerce and government applied 13 to 15 million pounds (5,900 to 6,800 tonnes).[4] With its heavy use in agriculture, weed resistance to glyphosate is a growing problem. While glyphosate and formulations such as Roundup have been approved by regulatory bodies worldwide and are widely used, concerns about their effects on humans and the environment persist.

Copied from Amazon reviews.....Though somewhat dated, this book remains a classic in exposing the new world order conspiracy. This blows the lid on the international financiers schemes, plans (much of which have come to pass since this book was published) and shows how they instigated and financed communism. Allens take was that the global elites were going to mold the world into a borderless communist state with no sovereign nations or people. In retrospect they have shifted gears a little, now fusing the worst elements of capitalism with ideas of universalist/oneness of all men and social controls of communism/socialism. You could easily just insert the word "globalism" where Allen speaks of "communism" or "socialism" in this book and it doesn't seem dated at all................
You also get insight into the Federal Reserve, the CFR, the Bilderberger group and who instigated their founding and who controls them, the Rockefellers, the so called "philanthropic" foundations controlled by the global elites, the European banking syndicate, the making of puppet Presidents and other political figures, the ferminting of scam wars and lots more..........
I don't agree with all of Allens conclusions or his solutions to defeating this globalist beast but None Dare Call it Conspiracy is a must read because it contains much vital information on deciphering the new world order conspiracy. I highly recomend The Rockefeller File by Allen also.

OK or GoogleMarch 18, 2014 - 10:16 am

followthemoney org National Overview map ......... click on California ..... or use the link see TABLE 3: Top 20 Contributors Note The Munger Games and the Teachers Union Interesting.... Charlie Munger is the Business Partner of Warren Buffett who is a friend of Lord Rothschild, Mr. Buffett flew Arnold Swartzenagger to Wadson Manor to bless him to become the Governor of California... ie Back to Money in Politics.... remember for the most part on Federal or State Level Democrat/Republican and are corralled and managed as a tag team for the benefit of the NWO International Bankers

It is not letting me post what I want againMarch 18, 2014 - 10:34 am

Google....Vallejo, California, Likely Headed for Second Bankruptcy Bob Adelmann thenewamericancom
March 17, 2014........A close look at the city’s finances at the time indicated what the city council was up against: With a budget of just $80 million, it owed $53 million to bondholders and another $220 million in unfunded liabilities for the city’s generous health benefit and retirement plans for its police officers, firemen, and other city workers........
And what of those pension plan beneficiaries? Never before had a judge ruled that labor contracts can be broken in a Chapter 9 bankruptcy until U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Michael McManus ruled in March 2009 that Vallejo could do so. Following that ruling two unions agreed to renegotiate. Two others didn’t. CalPERS [the California Public Employees’ Retirement System], the custodian of funds for those two plans, said it would not negotiate because California state law makes it a part of the state and therefore it cannot be forced to negotiate, regardless of McManus’ ruling. Said Gomes: “We realized we did not have the time or the money to take on a giant behemoth like CalPERS.”.....Poster's Note Please go to Infowarscom and read the entire piece....Moral of the Story...The NWO wants local municipalities broke, they want the law enforcement capacity, sheriffs departments, local city police forces under their control....THE END GAME IS THE BOND DEBT....Through carrot and stick policies of borrow now pay later, the BOND underwriters encourage communities to "let" Bonds which if voters were smart, they would realize that you can not give away the Goodies without paying for them, without paying for them with massive interest charges added on, meanwhile the manufacturing and job producing capacities of cities and communities have been devastated.....The Illuminati does operate down to the local level, through direct personnel put in key positions and just through encouraging and promoting the incorrect mindsets of locals, through television and media.......WAKE UP PEOPLE

Today Tuesday on InfowarsMarch 18, 2014 - 9:36 am

On the Tuesday, March 18 edition of the Alex Jones Show, Jones breaks down U.S. attempts to impose sanctions on Moscow over their so-called invasion of Ukraine, which Russia has responded to with much derision. Alex also examines which foreign power may step up to technically manage the Internet after the U.S. effectively gives up control, and the continuing move to demonize guns in California, as the BATF raids yet another gun manufacturer. On today's show, Alex welcomes the founder of economic forecasting firm Dent Research, Harry S. Dent, Jr. to discuss why he thinks the Dow Jones industrial average may spike at 17,000 then make a rapid descent to 6,000 by 2016. Mr. Dent forecasted the unanticipated boom of the 1990s in his 1992 book, The Great Boom Ahead, and his new book, The Demographic Cliff, explains his latest prediction. We'll also take your calls on today's worldwide broadcast.wwwinfowarscom

google...Ron Paul in USA Today: ‘Crimea Secedes. So What?’
Daniel McAdams Lew Rockwell Blog March 18, 2014............RPI Chairman Ron Paul has an op-ed in Tuesday’s USA Today wondering why the US is so eager to saddle up for war over a relatively insignificant piece of land thousands of miles away. Dr. Paul is thankful that the bonds of international trade are tempering the passions of the US neocons and warhawks

Just Google soros took out large put option on S&P then they start up the Ukraine agitation.... It takes money to make money ( out of nothing, thin air and wars and threats of war ) If this posts it is still not letting me post other stuff

LARRY McDONALD: NWO CommunoCapitalismMarch 18, 2014 - 10:47 am

Wikipedia Larry McDonaldMarch 18, 2014 - 11:02 am

Lawrence Patton McDonald, M.D. (April 1, 1935 – September 1, 1983) was an American politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the seventh congressional district of Georgia as a Democrat. He was a passenger on board Korean Air Lines Flight 007 when it was shot down by Soviet interceptors and presumed dead......
A conservative Democrat, he was active in numerous civic organizations and maintained a very conservative voting record in Congress. He was known for his staunch opposition to communism and believed in long standing covert efforts by the Trilateral Commission and other powerful US groups to bring about socialism and world government. He was the second president of the John Birch Society and also a cousin of General George S. Patton....... Update to current times...Remember the lines are blurred...at the top no real Demorat vs Republican the Neocons are now working with Obama/his administration figureheads may change but the NWO bueracracy remains and all the top players whether labeled Democrat or Republican or just in place NWO policy wonks remain in place and complete the Illuminati agenda.

Today Wednesday on InfowarsMarch 19, 2014 - 9:18 am

On this Wednesday, March 19 edition of the Alex Jones Show, Alex covers the latest incident of sadomasochistic police behavior as an enforcer of state violence at a public high school in Beaumont, Texas, breaks a student's arm after he refused to immediately submit. Alex also covers the latest on Ukraine, threats to the power grid and the internet, banker deaths as a top economist calls for the financial elite to take a hit, and the latest on MH 370, the flight that disappeared. On today's worldwide broadcast, Alex talks with Dimitri Karras and Lindy Diaz of Ares Armor, the firearms part retailer in San Diego that managed a crucial victory when it obtained a restraining order against the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Alex also talks with a Michigan couple, Maria Green and Steve Green, who endured child abduction when their infant was seized by the state because the couple are advocates of medical marijuana.wwwinfowarscom

Google....McCain’s Eleven Point Plan For War Daniel McAdams Lew Rockwell Blog March 19, 2014..............
He has developed an eleven point plan to hoist the administration back up onto a war footing with Russia. Never let a good crisis go to waste.................McCain would start of course with money. Not his own but ours. His first point is to pass the one billion dollar loan guarantee to Ukraine currently stalled in the Senate. Just an appetizer, as he foresees much more US money “to strengthen the IMF’s ability to be a stronger partner to Ukraine.”..............Then McCain would have NATO come in to Ukraine to “rebuild” the Ukrainian military, presumably to prepare it to attack Russia and presumably we would have to pay for this as well....... What I want to know is who is McCain's Handler?.... Definitely Illuminati power here, after all McCain's Dad helped engineer the Gulf of Tonkin incident as the False Flag to take us into the Vietnam war.... See it is generational....just like the Bushs Prescott Bush helped finance the Nasties....even Bill Clinton supposedly has ties to the Rockefellers......NO MORE ILLUMINATI OR THEIR CHOSEN PUPPETS SHOULD BE ELECTED TO THE PRESIDECY.....WAKE UP PEOPLE....( Hint Mr. Obama was another pre-approved Illuminati Puppet )

Google......Strange chemtrail twin spraying maneuver Peggy
Planet Infowars March 17, 2014 or Youtube Strange chemtrail twin spraying maneuver or in general Google chemtrail geoengineering..... See the plan by the Illuminati is to totally upset the course of the Good in Human Nature and Mother Nature.....no more nurture just destruction.